Plant Phenology and Systematic Plant Collection in the Los Amigos Conservation Area, Madre de Dios, Peru
By Fernando Cornejo and John Janovec
The
purpose of phenology monitoring is to study the occurrence of
repetetive biological events and their relation with other biotic and
abiotic/environmental factors. The study of phenology has been
considered essential for the understanding of the dynamics, ecology,
and evolution of plant diversity and vegetation in both tropical and
temperate zones.
Many studies of
phenology have been done around the world, the majority of them in the
neotropical regions where scientists have attempted to discover some
relation between phenological events and the diversity of ecosystems.
Numerous studies of phenology have been focused only on a few selected
species or in selected areas, and generally they relate climatic
factors and events. Researchers have found diverse patterns and
relationships with the climate with respect to the production of new
leaves, flowers, and fruits, especially related with the availability
of water in the soil, determined by the precipitation, or the
temperature and humidity of the environment.
The behavior of birds, mammals, and insects, their spatial and temporal
distribution, and their diversity, are related to the availability of
food resources. Studies of diversity, structure, floristic composition,
spatial distribution, and regeneration are related intimately with
phenological events, especially of flowering plants.
In
July 2001, the Amazon Conservation Association (ACA) and its sister
organization, the Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca
Amazónica (ACCA), were granted a 40-year renewable conservation
concession in Madre de Dios, Peru. This concession has an area of about
140,000 hectares of pristine Amazonian forests and wetlands and is
situated to protect the lower watershed of the Los Amigos River where
it meets the Madre de Dios River. No investigations were known of the
Los Amigos watershed prior to the concession being established. In
order to administer the conservation concession adequately, ACA/ACCA
purchased a small area of land in the vicinity of the mouth of the Los
Amigos River. On this land surrounded by Amazonian forests and wetlands
the Los Amigos Biological Station was constructed and opened in 2001.
Within
this context, the Botany of the Los Amigos Conservation Area was
started by John Janovec, Fernando Cornejo, and Amanda Neill in 2001 and
since that time the team has carried out a protocol of very intensive,
systematic plant collecting and monitoring.
One of
the priorities of the project is monitoring plant phenology in the Los
Amigos forests. We believe that it is one of the most intensive studies
of plant phenology conducted to date in the world. It now encompasses
over 1000 individuals of around 300 species of herbs, vines, shrubs,
and trees (60% trees). Sets of individuals of each species included in
the study are monitored on a monthly basis and their phenological state
is quantified with a simple system of data collection.
In
conjunction with plant phenology studies we carry out an intensive
botanical exploration program that we refer to as systematic
collection. By using this along with phenology, we are able to collect
specimens of most species with both flowers and fruits for imaging,
study, and description. We follow this approach up to about 20 days per
month for 12 months per year, with at least two people in the field
during those days. We are able to catch a lot of the phenology patterns
in the plant collections we make through floristic and ecological
activities in the field. In some cases this has already enabled the
collection of all the material needed to describe some new plant
species collected at Los Amigos.
OBJECTIVES
One
of the main goals of the Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program is to complete the phenological monitoring in the Los Amigos
forests and wetlands. We will also expand the monitoring system through
various approaches, such as working in collaboration with a
primatologist to monitor and identify the food resources of monkey
species. We are approaching the phenology monitoring program as
something that could be applied for years to come and also standardized
for comparative replicates in other regions.
We have
both short-term and long-term objectives for the project. During 2005, we worked to reach our goal of marking 1500
individuals representing 300 species (5 individuals per species) in the
phenology system. We used our minimal dataset to determine basic phenology patterns of the study area. We also helped and collaborated with
other projects in the area that needed botanical and phenological input,
such as identifying fruit resources eaten by monkey species.
Now one of our objectives is to determine more in-depth phenology
patterns in the area and compare the results with other studies. We
will work to determine patterns of synchronization in flowering and
fruiting. Through other parts of our project (i.e., inventory and
monitoring of moth species) we will work to associate phenology
patterns with the ecology and behavior of pollinators, dispersers, and
predators of seeds.
Our long-term goals of the
phenology project are to identify possible effects of abrupt changes in
climate, such as those caused by El Niño, global climate trends, and
effects of defaunation, deforestation, and contamination. We will also
strive to detect endogenous rhythms over many years, such as the case
of the connection between bamboo flowering, fruiting, and mortality.
Read about the tapir project by Mathias Tobler.
Read more about Vegetation Ecology